Gavin Newsom rules out 2028 presidential run if Kamala Harris enters the race

“Of course not. Why would I?” Newsom said when asked whether he would challenge the former vice president.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he would not run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris also enters the race. The stance rules out a potential primary contest between two prominent California Democrats.

Newsom made the comments in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper released Monday. Asked whether he would run if Kamala Harris did, Newsom responded, “Of course not. Why would I?” He added that he would not want to create a contest that he believes would waste voters’ time.

Newsom, who is barred by California’s term limits from seeking another term as governor, has acknowledged that he is considering a presidential campaign. According to The Washington Post, he has also increased his national political profile, including through appearances and campaigning outside California.

Newsom and Harris have long-standing connections to California politics. Harris served as San Francisco district attorney and later California attorney general before becoming a U.S. senator and vice president. Newsom previously served as San Francisco mayor and California lieutenant governor before becoming governor.

Newsom cited the overlap between their supporters and political networks as one reason he would not want to challenge Harris.

“I know her base of supporters. I know her friends,” he said, describing the potential contest as one with significant crossover between their constituencies.

Harris has not formally announced a 2028 presidential campaign. She said in April that she was “thinking” about another run, according to Reuters. Newsom, meanwhile, has not committed to running regardless. He said he had considered a 2024 campaign but decided he was not ready at the time and is still assessing whether he will seek the presidency in the next cycle.

The Democratic 2028 field remains unsettled, with several political figures being discussed as possible contenders. For Harris, Newsom’s statement removes the possibility of a direct primary contest between the two California Democrats if she decides to run. For now, both politicians remain outside a formally declared 2028 presidential contest.